SURGICAL-TREATMENT OF INTRAHEPATIC PORTOSYSTEMIC SHUNTS IN 45 DOGS

The surgical attenuation of an intrahepatic portosystemic shunt in 45 dogs is described, Twenty-nine (64 per cent) had left divisional shunt s consistent with a patent ductus venosus (PDV), 15 (33 per cent) had central divisional shunts and one had a right divisional shunt. In the dogs with a PDV, the shunt vessel could be most easily manipulated at a posthepatic site, whereas in those with central and right divisiona l shunts the manipulation could be more easily made intrahepatically b ut sometimes involved demanding intravascular surgical techniques, Eig ht dogs (18 per cent) died during the surgery or shortly afterwards. O f the 37 dogs surviving longer term, 28 (76 per cent) became clinicall y normal and required no medication or diet control. In a further thre e animals the shunt was ligated completely only during a second surgic al procedure. The remaining six dogs were euthanased because of clinic al signs of encephalopathy which were either surgically or medically u ncontrollable.